President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that West Virginia National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, who was severely injured and was given “almost no chance” after being shot last month in Washington, D.C., “got up from bed.”
Wolfe was hospitalized after being shot alongside 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom near the White House as part of a targeted shooting in November. Beckstrom ultimately died from her injuries following the shooting. The suspect responsible for the shooting has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.
Trump referenced the recent shooting of the two National Guard troops during Tuesday’s rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. The Post Millennial reported that prior to sharing the encouraging update regarding Wolfe’s condition, the president addressed Beckstrom’s tragic murder.
“She was killed almost instantly,” Trump said. “They kept her alive so her parents came from West Virginia, another great state. Parents are incredible. They couldn’t believe it. She was 20 years old, perfect. She was just getting a little promotion. They were so proud of her. She was on her way up, and she was shot in the head.”
After honoring Beckstrom at Tuesday’s rally, Trump highlighted Wolfe’s unexpected journey toward recovery and his mother’s confidence throughout the entire process that he would be “fine.”
“His mother’s named Monica,” Trump said. “And Monica is the most positive person I’ve ever seen. The night that he was so badly hit and the doctors gave him almost no chance. I called the hospital room and spoke to her, and she said, ‘Sir, he’ll be fine.'”
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The president told the Pennsylvania crowd that when Wolfe’s parents visited the Oval Office after he invited them to come to the White House, Wolfe’s mother again insisted that her son was “fine.”
Trump explained that shortly after the family’s visit to the White House, Wolfe’s mother called him and told him that the injured National Guardsman “moved his finger.”
“This is like three days later, he moved his finger,” Trump said. “And today I got a call that he got up from bed. Do you believe that?”
“Now, he didn’t speak,” Trump added. “He’s not ready for that yet. I mean, you got hit in the head, but he got up and, boy, they’re so happy. It’s amazing. And the care that they’ve given him, the hospital, and the generals that have been there, the military that’s been there, it’s amazing.”
